Flower support



Jan 28,1936; R E WENDELL ET AL 2,@29,@43

FLOWER SUPPORT Original Filed Nov. 15, 1932 I JNVENTORJ' AI/Vf 1 Wan/0:14

By 4-H, i t 4' Y ATTORNEY.

Fatented Jan. 28, 1936 SATiEfl PATENT QFFHQE FLOWER SUPPORT Hlavacek Application November 15, 1932, Serial No. 642,749 Renewed June 25, 1935 5 Claims.

This invention relates to a flower support, and more particularly to a device of this character designed to reinforce the corolla or petals of a flower.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a support operative to maintain the fresh and natural appearance of flowers having petals lacking normal staying or standing quality.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a flower support which may be easily yet firmly attached to the stem or axis of a flower without injury thereto.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a flower support adapted to remain concealed from normal view when in operative association with a flower.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be apparent, this invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of features, all as hereinafter described, claimed. and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is an enlarged elevational View of a flower support constructed in accordance with a the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the flower support illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the flower support shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the present invention in operative association with a flower.

Since every florist has to depend in some degree on disposing of his merchandise in the form of floral arrangements in order to realize a profit despite unavoidable loss in perishable flowers, it is necessary that the sale of cut flowers, corsages and arm bouquets be encouraged. Hence, unless he is able to maintain the fresh and natural appearance of his product for the purpose of floral arrangements, it is a hardship for a florist to employ plants which do not have long-standing properties. In most varieties of flowers the calyx is adapted to support the petals and prevent the drooping thereof. Even flowers made up of relatively heavy and isolated petals obtain their support in this manner. Other varieties, such as gardenias and the like are not possessed of the ordinary staying qualities in that the bloom is not only made up of relatively heavy petals but the position and quality of the calyx in these plants is such that it lends practically no support to the petals. The restoration and most desirable arrangement of flowers such as gardenias and other flowers having relatively essential to so construct a device of this charac- J ter as to render its presence obscured from normal view.

The present invention contemplates a flower support or petal reinforcing element adapted to be firmly attached to the stem of a flower and to cooperate with the under surface of the petals so as to maintain the same in a position rendering th same fresh and natural in appearance.

Reference being had more particularly to the drawing, the flower support embodying the features of this invention comprises a disk, preferably of flexible material, having a relatively flat body portion 10. This dish may be stamped or otherwise formed from celluloid or other suit able material, and the size and shape thereof may be varied in accordance with the size and shape of the flower to be supported thereby. Since it is desirable to have the same concealed from normal view, the disk is preferably of a perimeter smaller than that of the outer limits of the corolla or petals of the flower, so as to allow the outer portion of the flower to extend slightly beyond the limits of the body portion H] of the disk.

In order to arrange the body portion ill in a position to bear against and support the petals l l of a flower in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4, it is essential to provide an opening therein for receiving the stem l2 thereof as well as to provide a seat or receptacle for any enlargement of the stem at the axis of the flower. To this end, radial slots E3 of suitable length are provided in the body portion to, to divide the inner or central section thereof into any desired number of sector-shaped fingers it. By deflecting the fingers it downwardly from the plane of the body portion ifl, the free ends of the fingers l4 separate and define at their ends a central opening 5 adapted to receive the stem !2. It will readily be understood that this arrangement of the fingers 14, any enlargement of' the stem at the axis of the flower is'readily accommodated without undue distortion or warping of the support.

In order to preventslipping or cracking of the body portion H3 at the inner ends of the slots 13 during the manufacture or use thereof, openings l3, preferably of a diameter greater than the width of the slots is are provided in communication with the inner ends of alternate slots I3, The efficiency of the flower support embodying this feature is also increased in that the biting edge of or surface defining the juncture of the body portion ill and the deflected flngers H5 is lengthened and greater resistance to slipping is afforded. 7

As will be noted in Fig. 1, one of the radial slots i3 is extended to the outer periphery of the body portion it. Access to the central or stemreceiving opening i5 is thus obtained by merely flexing the body lfi adjacent the extended slot in maintaining the petals in an elevated position. At the same time, the flexibility of the fin- 7 from the flower. V g

of the support it will be apparent that its manip-' gers M will force the support into close engagement with the stem 52 of the flower, thus providing means to prevent accidental slipping of the support on the stem I2 in a direction away Owing to the flexible quality ulation and arrangement are suii'iciently yieldable I to prevent injury to the flower supported thereby.

adapted to encircle the stem of a flower, means 7 From the foregoing it will be recognized that the structural characteristics of the flower support contemplated herein'renders said support efiectiveto maintain the fresh and natural appearance of flowers whose petals are either nor- .mally weak or subject to collapse in handling.

Furthermore, the features of construction referred to render the external appearance of the support free from unsightly effect when in operative association with a flower. a a

The use of a flower support embodying the foregoing features is not limited to a single application but is manifestly adapted for repeated use without impairing its quality. Its resilient properties also render it efiective in supporting flowers 'whose stems or petals vary in size throughout a relatively wide range. Accordingly, the cost of equipment of this character is minimized since a relatively limit-ed supply of flower supports embodying the features of this invention will amply meet the average requirements.

What is claimed is:

1. In a flower support, a petal-reinforcing member having a portion deflected from its face, the walls of said deflected portion being adapted to engage the stem of a flower, and means for increasing the normally eifective biting quality of said deflected portion. 7

2. A flower support comprising a petal-reinforcing member having a portion deflected from its face, the walls of said deflected portion being adapted to engage the stern of a flower, and means for increasing the normal length of the surface defining the juncture of the face and deflected portion.

3. A flower support comprisinga body having a relatively flat face, a plurality of fingers formed.

by radial slots in the central portion of and anguiarly deflected to the face of said body, and openings of a diameter greater than the width of said slots communicating with the inner ends of predetermined slots.

4. A flower attachment comprising a flexible body adapted to encircle the stem of a flower, a plurality of fingers formed by radial slots in the central portion of and angularly deflected to the face of said body, and openings of a diameter greater than the width of said slots communi- V slots.

5. A flower attachment comprising a body 

